Self-burying sediment energy harvester

Abstract

A self-burying microbial fuel cell can include a housing with conductive elements. An anode and cathode can be integrated into the housing at respective proximal and distal ends. A self-burying means for partially burying the microbial fuel cell in a submerged environment is included, so that the anode is buried but the cathode is exposed to the submerged environment can be included. The self-burying means can include omni-directional vibrating device located within the housing, a plurality of intake ports formed in the housing for a pump within the housing. The pump outputs into a longitudinal fluid conduit that extends through the housing and exits at the distal end of the housing. When the vibrating device activates at the same time as the pump, temporary slurry can be formed at the extreme distal end of the device, and the vibrating action causes the microbial fuel cell to become partially buried.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microbial fuel cell comprising:
 a housing with conductive elements having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an anode integrated into said housing at said distal end; 
 a cathode integrated into said housing at said proximal end; 
 an omni-directional vibrating device located within said housing; 
 a plurality of intake ports formed in said housing between said proximal end and said distal end; 
 a pump in fluid communication with said plurality of intake ports; 
 a longitudinal fluid conduit in fluid communication with said pump, said longitudinal fluid conduit extending through said distal end of said housing; and, 
 said vibrating device, said pump, said plurality of intake ports and said longitudinal fluid conduit cooperating to bury said microbial fuel cell in a submerged environment, so that said anode is buried and said cathode is exposed to said submerged environment. 
 
     
     
       2. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein said intake ports are located on said housing according to how much of said housing is to be buried. 
     
     
       3. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 1  further comprising a flange mounted on said housing between said anode and said cathode. 
     
     
       4. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer for selectively deactivating said vibrating device and said pump. 
     
     
       5. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a mid-section located between said cathode and said anode, and wherein said mid-section is constructed such that the said anode and said cathode are electrically isolated from one another and so that said mid-section is made from a material selected from the group consisting of 6061 aluminum and an acetal copolymer. 
     
     
       6. A method for deploying a microbial fuel cell, comprising the steps of:
 A) providing a housing with conductive elements having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 B) integrating an anode into said housing at said distal end; 
 C) integrating a cathode into said housing at said proximal end; 
 D) burying said microbial fuel cell in a submerged environment, so that said anode is buried and said cathode is exposed to said submerged environment, said burying step being accomplished by; 
 D1) locating an omni-directional vibrating device within said housing; 
 D2) forming a plurality of intake ports in said housing between said proximal end and said distal end; 
 D3) placing a pump in fluid communication with said plurality of intake ports; and 
 D4) placing a longitudinal fluid conduit in fluid communication with said pump, said longitudinal fluid conduit extending through said distal end of said housing. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said intake ports are located on said housing according to how much of said housing is to be buried. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step D5) of mounting a flange mounted on said housing between said anode and said cathode. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
 D6) attaching a timer to said vibrating device and said pump; and, 
 D7) selectively setting said timer to deactivate said vibrating device and said pump. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said providing step is accomplished using a housing having a mid-section located between said cathode and said anode, and wherein said mid-section is constructed such that said cathode and said anode are electrically isolated from one another and so that the mid-section is made from a material selected from the group consisting of 6061 aluminum and an acetal copolymer. 
     
     
       11. A microbial fuel cell comprising:
 a housing with conductive elements said housing having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an anode integrated into said housing at said distal end; 
 a cathode integrated into said housing at said proximal end; 
 an omni-directional vibrating device; 
 a plurality of intake ports formed in said housing between said proximal end and said distal end; 
 a pump in fluid communication with said plurality of intake ports; 
 a longitudinal fluid conduit in fluid communication with said pump, said longitudinal fluid conduit extending through said distal end of said housing; and, 
 said vibrating device, said pump, said plurality of intake ports and said longitudinal fluid conduit cooperating to self-bury said microbial fuel cell in a submerged environment, so that said anode is buried and said cathode is exposed to said submerged environment. 
 
     
     
       12. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 11 , wherein said intake ports are located on said housing according to how much of said housing is to be buried. 
     
     
       13. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 11  further comprises a flange mounted on said housing between said anode and said cathode. 
     
     
       14. The microbial fuel cell of  claim 11 , further comprising a timer for deactivating said vibrating device and said pump.